THE CHALLENGE

The lack of highway access is a contributing factor to the area’s stagnant economic growth and development. Existing traffic volumes and a high truck percentage (17 percent) negatively affect the mobility of the area. This, combined with geometric features on U.S. 219 that do not meet current design standards with regards to lane and shoulder width, hills (vertical grade), curves (horizontal curvature), and sight distance, creates safety concerns for motorists. Certain areas of the existing U.S. 219 have a crash history that exceeds the statewide average for similarly designed roads.

HOW WE HELPED

As planning consultant to the MDOT SHA and the PennDOT, McCormick Taylor’s tasks included identifying a range of solutions and alignment options to reach the goals of this PEL study. The PEL study additionally examined the corridor to determine if smaller standalone projects demonstrating independent utility and logical termini existed.

RESULTS

This PEL study process was relatively new to both the SHA and PennDOT, but this innovative approach led to the subsequent and stand-alone NEPA study to meet milestones under the constraints of a very demanding and streamlined schedule.

AWARDS

2017 MdQI SHA Planning Award

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